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PIA Worker’s Strike
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) workers went on nationwide strike and suspended flight operations across the country over proposed privatization of the national carrier. PIA has suffered losses amounting to Rs 2 billion in just three days’ of strike. Meanwhile PIA Chairman Nasir Jafar tendered his resignation which was accepted by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The government made clear that no PIA employee will be laid off during privatization and that the government will not tolerate strikes and take a strict action against protesting workers.
PIA employees held their protest outside major airports across the country, which came as the federal government invoked the Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952, in the PIA for six months. Domestic and international flights at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport were cancelled.
Meanwhile two protesting PIA employees were also killed in a clash with security forces on Tuesday evening. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced that protesting employees of PIA will be fired from service and can be sent to jail for a year.
Karachi Operation
Rangers in Karachi have intensified their operation against criminals in the city and made arrests in the past few weeks. Arrest of one of the most important member of Lyari gang war, Uzair Baloch, is considered a major breakthrough. According to Rangers, they arrested Baloch in a targeted operation outside Karachi last week while he was attempting to enter the city. The paramilitary force also claimed the recovery of weapons from him. Uzair Baloch was the leader of Lyari gang war and chief of proscribed Peoples Amn Committee (PAC). Statements from different political parties are suggesting association of Uzair Baloch with Pakistan Peoples Party. However Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah denied any association with him. He said that PPP had no link with Baloch, as the provincial government itself was taking action against such criminals.
Meanwhile Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the issuance of a new notification regarding Rangers powers will give a strong and positive message about Karachi operation.
Powers of Sindh Rangers regarding anti-terrorism operation were due to end this week and government wanted a new notification to be issued with mutual consultation.
War Against Terror
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif attended a high level meeting on Thursday to review internal and external threat spectrum, including that posed by enemy intelligence agencies, terrorist networks and their linkages.
The role of hostile intelligence agencies, their collaborators in undermining Pakistan’s interests and management of Pak-Afghan border was also discussed. Army Chief also said that Balochistan has become a hotbed of proxy wars for regional and global grand strategy by many powers. Both the leaders underscored the need for continued efforts and ongoing intelligence-based operations to ensure sustainable peace in the country.
Moreover India and Pakistan are also willing to work together to ensure peace in the region. Indian government said that they are in touch on investigations into the Pathankot air base attack and will continue to remain engaged. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh also asserted that his nation would stand by Pakistan if it takes action against terrorists and organizations. He also said that advance intelligence input on Pathankot helped the security agencies in neutralising the possible impact of the terror attack.
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